Audi's first error

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...when we discovered that Foggy was indeed fallible and flawed, that the huge advantage conferred by riding a factory 916 Ducati was to a certain extent flattering to deceive. We also learnt that 'Lil John was in fact a god...albeit a very troubled and disturbed one.

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Yes. Compliment. Skunkworks implies the best of the best; however, it also insinuates that more stuff blows up than flies b/c that's the nature of true experimentation. Maybe that's the best way to describe it. The Japanese are prototyping. Ducati is buildng experimental bikes. When a GP7 or a SR-71 is built, people rejoice. When nothing is working, people are disgraced and fired acrimoniously for wasting time, money, and talent. The rules might be forcing Ducati to shake things up.

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I think the skunkworks days are gone, to my personal regret. Armies of computer technicians seem to be the most important engineering resource now. I  think the current rules probably don't even allow Ducati to build a more powerful engine, which like Ferrari seemed to be their main traditional advantage, now.

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Oh, I see, they dominate because they "really want to" but don't really want to for Wsbk. So its just a matter of wanting it. Well then, to "want it" must mean 'rules manipulation' to get it! You probably don't see the "irony" in that statement, do you? Hahaha, amazing. Again, in order for them to be successful there must be an element of partiality in the series. That is exactly what I'm saying genius! AND...that is why inequalities in GP serve to 'facilitate' success for some (manufactures and riders) and hinder others.

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And now we are right back to where you and I have been before Jums... you perceive 'partiality' and 'inequalities' as anomalies which must be rooted out, brought to light, debated and masticated until fully digested. I see them as intristic parts of all forms of motorsports, something to be aware of, to acknowledge and, at times, to celebrate as these 'partialities' and 'inequalities' form the basis for what we historically call 'eras' of racing.

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Have done the factory tour, same as you. Peeped through the peephole. Haven't visited Corse yet, though I visited YMR at Lesmo.


I have come to this opinion after talking to a number of people (non-Italians) who have had close dealings with Corse. They have been unambiguous in their description of the problem (and in one case, rather colorful).

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Who accused Corse of being an amateur outfit? Everything I've ever heard about Corse is that it is a true skunk works operation with a competitive advantage in prototyping. Supposedly, Corse is the kind of prototyping facility where nearly every bike is a one-off, and they don't worry about building the same thing twice. The reports about Ducati's fit and finish sound congruous with the skunk works format, and I can't imagine the development pace as being anything other than "chaotic".


 


When series talk about cost reduction, they almost always attempt to limit the number of machine variants permitted per season. The F1 RRA agreement between the constructors, for instance, limits the number of chassis, aero, and bodywork homologations per season. F1 have had a perpetual engine freeze for several seasons, as well. MotoGP is almost certainly headed down the same road. We know an engine freeze will be implemented next season. The freeze will basically limit engine designs to 1 per season. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that MotoGP may already have other restrictions on frame and swingarm variants.


 


This kind of arrangment more closely mimics the production market. The manufacturers develop, finalize designs, and then produce a small series production. However, this arrangement is not friendly to a skunk works facility.


 


Perhaps this is the 2% Ducati is missing?

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I think the skunkworks days are gone, to my personal regret. Armies of computer technicians seem to be the most important engineering resource now. I  think the current rules probably don't even allow Ducati to build a more powerful engine, which like Ferrari seemed to be their main traditional advantage, now.

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......., every day the Ducati looks like more and more a pile of ...., look at Ducati Brno lap times... what the hell..


 


It's been very difficult to watch MotoGP this way, can't stand Yamaha vs Honda anymore, got tired of all this crap, I want real competition. 

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